Reading through the new version of Showdown for the first time and I see a 25% point reduction for taking multiple models in a single unit. So...what is the advantage of taking more or less units if it is always a 25% reduction? Did I miss something else? Thanks!

It's a 25% discount per model if they go into one unit. The big drawback to having more models to a unit is that they have less mobility (due to the need to stick together per the cohesion rule) and if the unit fails its morale check, you've got a whole boatload of models that are running away from the battle. It's a tradeoff though because having several smaller units is more mobile and you lose fewer units if they start running from battle, but they will be making morale rolls more frequently (e.g. with four figures in a unit, they'll be making one every time one of them falls).

Hm. That just seems like their is not enough to have units of more than two models. Yeah, less morale rolls, but more maneuverability more than makes up for that. I think they should break it down a bit more. Say, 2-3 is a 10% discount. 4-5 is 15%, 6-7 is 20% and 8+ is 25%.

KaneBlaireau wrote:Hm. That just seems like their is not enough to have units of more than two models. Yeah, less morale rolls, but more maneuverability more than makes up for that. I think they should break it down a bit more. Say, 2-3 is a 10% discount. 4-5 is 15%, 6-7 is 20% and 8+ is 25%.

While its never been explicitly stated. I've always felt that the minimum number of models in a unit should be 4.

Personally, I default to five per unit when I'm working with standard "riflemen/swordsman" units. Crew-served weapons I group by the standard crew (4 for a Civil War cannon, 2 to 3 for a WWI machinegun, etc.)

However, Showdown is more of a toolbox for the player to quickly stage skirmish-sized battles than it is a hard-and-fast rules set. As a result, if you want to tweak it to the most efficient point costs, it's very easy to do so.